Top 7 Things You Need to Know About Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets

Measuring the color of plastic pellets is essential for ensuring color consistency and maintaining industry standards. Keep these six things in mind when determining the color of resin pellets. 

1. Understand That Various Components Affect the Color of Plastic Pellets

Resin pellets typically have a translucent color that can be modified through various coloring methods to become more transparent or opaque or adopt a range of different colors. In addition to coloring techniques, overheating, molding, melting, and other processes involved in production can influence the color and appearance of the pellets. 

2. Understand the Difference Between Transparent and Opaque Pellets 

Plastic pellets can vary in their optical properties, resulting in a need for different measuring methods. Spectrophotometers can measure the color of both transparent and opaque plastic pellets while factoring in their unique attributes. 

• Transparent pellets: These pellets are see-through and allow light to pass through them completely. 
• Opaque pellets: These pellets reflect and block light from passing through.

3. Maintain Plastic Pellet Color Measurement Industry Standards

Industry standards are an essential factor to consider when measuring the color of resin pellets. These standards outline the best testing methods and the results you should expect. Implementing a color measurement system that adheres to industry standards is crucial to ensuring quality control. 

4. Ensure Color Consistency 

Standardizing the measuring process is one of the best ways to ensure color consistency throughout the different production phases. From following a uniform sample preparation procedure to using the right color measurement equipment, every step must be precise and repeatable to achieve color consistency across production lines. 

5. Meet Regulatory Compliance

HunterLab helps you meet Regulatory Compliance. Medical, food, pharma, and auto have strict material standards.  Our spectrophotometers provide objective color data to demonstrate compliance.

6. Use Spectrophotometers for Excellent Quality Control 

Use Spectrophotometers for Excellent Quality Control Reliable spectrophotometers like the innovative solutions from HunterLab offer a scientific approach to measuring the color of resin pellets with accurate and speedy readings. These devices provide quantitative color measurements and valuable data highlighting inconsistencies, allowing you to refine your processes for better quality control.

7. Use Accurate Color Measurement to Contribute to Sustainability Practices

When measuring the color of plastic resin, you must factor in the yellowing effect that occurs due to oxidation and the correct dosage of optical brighteners needed to mitigate that outcome. Optical brighteners are used in plastic production to enhance the whiteness or brightness of plastic pellets, masking the yellowing effect. They are also crucial for restoring the appearance of recycled plastics. 

With government and regulatory bodies demanding an increase in the usage of recycled plastic to improve the environmental impact of plastic production, spectrophotometers have become crucial for measuring color throughout the product life cycle. Spectrophotometers with color and fluorescent quality measurement capabilities, like HunterLab's solutions, can help counter yellowness and allow for the adjustment of the amount of optical brighteners in recycled content.  

Using HunterLab spectrophotometers for accurate color measurement of raw and recycled materials, as well as a blend of the two, can help you prevent color inconsistency that often leads to product wastage, reworks, and insufficient use of resources. These solutions allow you to maintain a production process that contributes toward a more sustainable future.

Connect With the Color Experts from HunterLab 

As a leading color measurement solution provider with decades of industry experience, HunterLab provides spectrophotometers that can help you improve efficiency and maintain industry standards. Our Agera spectrophotometer is ideal for measuring plastic pellets. Reach out to us to speak to our expert team or to request a quote today!